On party and country...

[CLARENCE 2015!]

Folks-

Sorry for being an attention hog- Wendy don't care about my politics so no one else at 1:30 in the morning would give my drivel any attention but you guys...

I don't know if this board and all of you have helped me reach this conclusion or not...maybe I'm returning to my 1964 self when I cast my first ballot for LBJ, a man all of us believed could continue to make our nation fairer and freer...or perhaps I'm getting soft in my old age. Or maybe it is simply a realization that I do not have that many votes left to cast so I better make them count...

I don't believe the Democrats have all the answers and not all of them have the right intentions- but I see largely a group of people who are committed to making America what the founders intended it to be... not the strict ideas of old men centuries ago, but a belief that America must constantly evolve and change and accept new people and ideas. I don't believe conservatives have ill will towards our country just as I never believed the Democrats did... but I see a fundamental difference in the way each party sees the weakest among us. Those of us who have had success need to raise them up...I benefited from the government doing that for me. I was a screw up when the Navy taught me the skills that led me to be very successful in my life- government did that for me... so why should I not want it to do the same for others?

I believe 2016 will be the last election I cast a ballot for...what do I want that vote to stand for? Where do I want to see my country go? From my party, I see folks committed to going backwards- back to the days when the old boys club ran the show and women and blacks were let in the room only to fetch drinks. I see folks committed to obstruction- whose hypocrisy knows no bounds, who will allow a Republican President any power in the name of national security but a Democratic President they see as a tyrant when he seeks the same powers. I see a party whose members jump at the chance to stand against the tides of history- maybe it's only because I've seen the civil rights movement that I can tell you that immigrants and gays will have their equal rights... and I don't want my last vote to delay the march towards equality that I fought for as a much younger man

My first vote was based on idealism... every vote since has been based on realism- the here and now of my personal finances, our pressing national security issues, you name it...I want to base my last vote on idealism and a belief in what we as Americans can achieve together. Therefore, I am going to the Supervisor's office tomorrow to switch my registration to the Democratic Party

[Miles]

Very well put, clarence.

Welcome to the party

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Welcome, Clarence.

[Franzl]

Bravo!

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Have fun.

[Napoleon]

Cool. That is good to hear!

[Donerail]

Allison Tant chalks up her first recruit Welcome aboard. Go knock Keith Perry out of his house seat or something.

[Oakvale]

That was very interesting to read, Clarence. It's not often you see someone switch party affiliations at your age.

Best of luck.

[minionofmidas]

Sorry for being an attention hog- Wendy don't care about my politics so no one else at 1:30 in the morning would give my drivel any attention but you guys...

You've very succinctly described the main secondary purpose of this forum! (The primary one being of course the detailed election results and polling stuff.)

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Ach, don't say that.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

A fine essay, clarence.

[afleitch]

You're never too late to go on a political journey. Best of luck!

[Sopranos Republican]

I know I haven't been on this forum for that long, but I can see that I agree with you on an awful lot Clarence. I really can't speak for other republicans, but I for one will miss you being a part of this party, and I really do wish you well. 2016 will be my first Presidential election, so I hope I get to vote for someone really good, just like you did in your first election. And if the GOP runs someone in '16 that is someone committed to making America go backwards (example:Santorum) than my first vote will also be for a democrat.

[TNF]

Good news!

[Incipimus iterum]

Welcome to The Party Clarence!!

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

OK I take back everything bad I've ever said about you. Welcome!

[fezzyfestoon]

No vote is based in realism.

[Obamanation]

Welcome to the Party, man!

[Oldiesfreak1854]

We'll miss you, but if you care about equal rights so much, they why aren't you still a Republican like me?

[JerryArkansas]

Clarence, I agree with you on alot of things, and I won't switch my party, but I know most likely I will not be voting for the Republican in 2016

[Niemeyerite]

You're Matrix Score tells me you should stay a republican. Not that I don't want you in the DP, but you are too conservative to be a democrat, don't you think?

Anyway, welcome.

[Antonio the Sixth]

An excellent development. May many more see the light like you did.

[Paul Kemp]

Therefore, I am going to the Supervisor's office tomorrow to switch my registration to the Democratic Party

BOE Supervisor?

[Goldwater]

Although I'm sticking with the Republican Party for now, I agree with a lot of what you said and will definitely be voting voting for the Democratic candidate in 2016 if the Republicans nominate someone like Santorum.

[Donerail]

You're Matrix Score tells me you should stay a republican. Not that I don't want you in the DP, but you are too conservative to be a democrat, don't you think?

He's in North Florida, so no.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Clarence, that was one of the best posts I've ever read on here.  Welcome to the party.